“Families and victims suffering the aftermath of drink-driving have always been my priority. I voted for and fully support the legislation which automatically disqualifies any motorist found to have consumed alcohol. I also supported the Government Minister who brought this vital legislation forward even though he was criticised from some quarters. I will continue to support all road safety initiatives and measures.”

Finian McGrath: ‘It was never my intention to cause pain and I wish to unreservedly apologise to them and also to our gardaí.’ Photograph: James Forde

The Minister who brought forward the reforms was Minister for Transport Shane Ross, Mr McGrath’s colleague in the Independent Alliance.

Mr McGrath was criticised by both Government colleagues, including those in the Independent Alliance, and Opposition figures. Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan called on Mr McGrath to resign but stopped short of saying he should resign his post.

Public scepticism

Former Garda chief superintendent John O’Brien said he could understand public scepticism about Garda checkpoints for drink-driving because of past issues with inflated figures, but he said checkpoints were important.

He said enforcement needed to be done with a degree of sensitivity and that everything had to be done to improve road safety.

“Our members take their political independence very seriously and regard it as a key reason gardaí command such a high level of public support,” it said in a statement.

“For clarification, gardaí carry out Mandatory Intoxication Test checkpoints [MITs] under management instruction in accordance with the Road Traffic Act and do not set up MIT checkpoints under their own recognisance.

“The GRA welcomes Minister McGrath’s acknowledgement that his charges have no basis and will not be commenting further on this matter at this time.”

* This text has been amended. An earlier version reported that 69 drivers were over the limit in January. The 69 refers to those detected by the Garda since the beginning of the year